Ippei Mizuhara, former interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani, was sentenced to nearly five years in prison for bank and tax fraud after stealing nearly $17 million from Ohtani’s bank account. A federal court in Santa Ana, California, imposed a sentence of four years and nine months, alongside an order to pay $18 million in reparations, primarily to Ohtani. Mizuhara is also under a three-year supervised release and must surrender by March 24th.
US District Judge John W. Holcomb remarked on the unexpectedly high sum Mizuhara stole, noting that it exceeds what many earn in a lifetime. Mizuhara, who admitted to using the stolen funds for gambling debts and other expenses, expressed remorse during the hearing. His attorney highlighted Mizuhara’s exploitation of Ohtani’s vulnerability as a non-English speaker in the baseball world.
Prosecutors revealed that Mizuhara manipulated Ohtani’s financial accounts and transferred funds to cover his gambling bets, while the investigation ties into illegal sportsbooks in Southern California. Mizuhara had a close relationship with Ohtani, having moved to the U.S. with him, assisting the player both on and off the field. Despite his past friendship with Ohtani, the fraud has resulted in reputational damage to the star player.
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